So Rome gets to move to the right tonight and Ballard gets to play the left. Rome didn't look to bad and Ballard looked much better.

Good win. A little sloppy for times but we pulled it out. They won the special teams battle tonight so give them credit, a SH and a PP goal. Our PP is still number one but it won't be for long if we don't get back to being scary on it. Need to fine tune and fine a new wrinkle to throw in. Give the 2nd unit more time on the PP too. Get Burrows off the point. I know he hit a goal post an all but I'm just not a fan of a forward playing point on the PP, at least none of ours.

Now all we have to do is take care of Edmonton and all will be right in the world again.

MayRay with an absolute bullet off the pipe and Kes could have had two.

It really is nice to see a Canuck win a fight so convincingly. #4 in your program, #1 in your heart.

Tanev looked like a regular out there beside Edler. No rookie jitters at all.

I think Hodgson's upside is extremely high. He's making some world class plays and playing some very sound defense. He protects the puck very well and is hard to knock off his feet. I dare say, he's a better centerman than Kesler. Kes has the speed but Cody has the stick handling.

Southern_Canuck wrote:That was a stunning fight by Ballard - sure Pavelski is not a fighter, but I haven't seen a lopsided Canuck win like that since Volpatti/Richardson... and before that Rypien/Prust, I think.

S_C

Um SC, he was fighting Joe Pavelski.

Please, do not compare him to Rypien or Volpatti

Ummm, I was just noting the big disparity in hard punches landed - when was the last time you saw a Canuck player win big in a fight like that?

I can see a shit disturbing rat like Tootoo or Marchand doing that but when your captain is doing that, you know your team's in trouble. Marleau's ok but as long as Thornton's on that team, the Sharks aren't going to win anything.

Fred wrote:I like the idea that the third line is becoming a force of it's own...some thing that we didn't have last season...pretty hard to beat a 3 line team...or should be. Hodgson, Hansen and Raymond are taking their opportunity

hmmm maybe you didn't watch the playoffs Fred? 2nd and 3rd line were the difference makers against Preds and Chitown.. But a great game by CH.. kudo's to Kesler and Raymond ..

I can see a shit disturbing rat like Tootoo or Marchand doing that but when your captain is doing that, you know your team's in trouble. Marleau's ok but as long as Thornton's on that team, the Sharks aren't going to win anything.

I have been saying that for years. People laughed when Boston traded Thornton away for spare parts. Like it or not, Boston won a cup but San Jose have never reached the final...

Unfortunately I wasn't able to watch the game but listened to the 1st and 3rd on the radio while driving, so it certainly sounded like many are describing here - a deserved victory, with Canucks dominating the 5 on 5 play for the most part.

I have to chime in on Ballard - I'm not a hater and actually have been pulling for the guy both last year and this year until a few games ago when I made peace that it's time he and the organization part company. But....the past 2 games could swing me back -- it's just great to see the "fight" in him (not that he's a heavyweight, just that he gives a shit and obviously wants to stay here). Plus it sounds like he played much more comfortably on the left side yesterday , so maybe all is not lost.

Fred wrote:I like the idea that the third line is becoming a force of it's own...some thing that we didn't have last season...pretty hard to beat a 3 line team...or should be. Hodgson, Hansen and Raymond are taking their opportunity

hmmm maybe you didn't watch the playoffs Fred? 2nd and 3rd line were the difference makers against Preds and Chitown.. But a great game by CH.. kudo's to Kesler and Raymond ..

I made it to most games and the ones I didn't attend I certainly watched on TV. Lets me just say this if our third line was playing like the the current line is we wouldn't have noticed the injury to Kesler quite as much. Lapierre playing the minutes he did is not the answer in my books. They give lots of try in the SC I grant you but they're not top end skill players

Southern_Canuck wrote:That was a stunning fight by Ballard - sure Pavelski is not a fighter, but I haven't seen a lopsided Canuck win like that since Volpatti/Richardson... and before that Rypien/Prust, I think.

S_C

Um SC, he was fighting Joe Pavelski.

Please, do not compare him to Rypien or Volpatti

Ummm, I was just noting the big disparity in hard punches landed - when was the last time you saw a Canuck player win big in a fight like that?

S_C

C'mon Dude, leave S_C alone! He just praised KB4. This is a unicorn under double rainbows moment for the rest of us.

Besides, who else has been providing the "enforcing and intimidation" that folks have been clamoring for? Anyone seen Dale Wiese lately?